法苑珠林 27.36

27.36

As the Za baozang jing says: The Buddha-Dharma is vast, and its deliverance boundless. When one seeks the Path with an earnest mind, there is none who does not attain the fruit; even in jest, merit is not in vain. As in past times, there was an old bhikṣu, advanced in years and muddled in wits. Seeing young bhikṣus preaching the Dharma in various ways, he felt admiration upon hearing them speak of the four fruits. He said to the young bhikṣus, 'You are all intelligent; please bestow the four fruits upon me.' The young bhikṣus mocked him and said, 'We have the four fruits, but we must have good food before giving them to you.' Hearing these words, the old bhikṣu was delighted and immediately prepared various fine dishes, inviting the young bhikṣus and begging for the four fruits. After eating his food, the young bhikṣus gestured to one another to make sport of the old bhikṣu, saying to him, 'Venerable one, sit in a corner of this room, and we will give you the fruit.' Hearing this, the old bhikṣu was overjoyed and sat as instructed. The young bhikṣus then struck his head with a leather ball and said to him, 'This is the fruit of the srotāpanna.' Hearing this, the old bhikṣu focused his mindfulness without distraction, and immediately attained the first fruit. The young bhikṣus mocked him again, saying, 'Although we gave you the srotāpanna fruit, there are still seven births and seven deaths. Move to another corner, and next we will give you the sakṛdāgāmin fruit.' Because he had attained the first fruit, the old bhikṣu's mind advanced further, and he moved to another seat. The young bhikṣus again struck his head with the ball and said to him, 'We give you the second fruit.' The old bhikṣu became even more single-minded and immediately realized the second fruit. The young bhikṣus mocked him again, saying, 'You have now attained the sakṛdāgāmin fruit, but there is still the hardship of coming and going in saṃsāra. Move your seat again, and I will give you the anāgāmin fruit.' The old bhikṣu moved his seat as told. The young bhikṣus again struck him with the ball and said to him, 'We now give you the third fruit.' Hearing this, the old bhikṣu was overjoyed, redoubled his earnestness, and immediately realized the anāgāmin fruit. [They said,] 'Yet you will still receive a defiled body in the form and formless realms, impermanent and deteriorating, every thought being suffering. Move your seat again, and next we will give you the arhat fruit.' The old bhikṣu moved his seat as told. The young bhikṣus again struck his head with the leather ball and said to him, 'We now give you that fourth fruit.' The old bhikṣu, contemplating single-mindedly, immediately realized the arhat fruit. Having attained the four fruits, he was exceedingly joyful, prepared various fine delicacies and assorted incense and flowers, and invited the young bhikṣus to repay their kindness. He discussed the factors of enlightenment and undefiled virtues with the young bhikṣus, but the young bhikṣus stammered and were at a loss for words. Only then did the old bhikṣu say to them, 'I have already attained the fruit of an arhat.' Hearing his words, the young bhikṣus all expressed regret and repented of their previous fault of teasing him. Therefore, practitioners should be mindful of goodness; if even teasing still brings real retribution, how much more so for an earnest mind!